Riverside, North Riverside cops cracking down on impaired drivers for St. Pat's Day

If you're planning to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this weekend, be forewarned that police in North Riverside and Riverside will have additional patrols on the street watching for impaired drivers.

From March 16-19, police in the villages will be participating in the state's Drive Sober of Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign, which is funded by federal grants through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

"If you're going to drink, designate a sober driver before you go out," said Riverside Sgt. Jeffrey Miller in a press release. "It's not just about you. There are other people on the roads who want to get where they are going safely."

If you're going out:

Designate a sober driver ahead of time and give that person your car keys.

If you don't have a designated driver, call a cab, use a ride-share service or have a sober friend or family member pick you up.

Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they're about to drink and drive.